Selkirk 3

Jarrow Roofing 0

David Knox at Yarrow Park

A LOOK of satisfaction on the face of Selkirk boss Ian Fergus at full time told the story on Saturday.

His busy summer of recruitment had already paid dividends with three debutants - Sean McKirdy, Daryl Healy and Ciaran Chalmers - scoring in an impressive victory over Northern League side, Jarrow Roofing.

There were also stand-out displays from two of his new defenders – Dan Greig and Reece Donaldson – as they kept Jarrow at bay throughout the 90 minutes.

The manager told us: “I sat back at one point during the first half and thought this is a joy to watch.

“You are never sure how all the players will perform together until you go into a match – and midway through the first half I just knew we’ve got it right.

“I made six changes for the second half and the boys who came on all did well and can offer different options.

“I want us to be a team that can mix up our game and we have the personnel to now do that.

“It was a good afternoon for Selkirk – not conceding and scoring three goals against a good team.”

Selkirk could easily have been two up in the opening quarter of an hour as the impressive McKirdy slipped a terrific pass through to Healy on seven minutes, only for the towering striker to be denied by a brave save from Shaun Newbrook.

The Jarrow keeper produced another good stop a few minutes later to prevent Murray Christie’s angled drive reaching the net.

The Roofers’ best chance of the first half arrived on 22 minutes as former Carlisle United defender Dan Kirkup headed a deep freekick inches wide of the far post.

But Selkirk were soon on the front foot again.

And they were rewarded with the opener three minutes later.

Phil Addison’s delightful reverse pass was collected by McKirdy, and the former Hearts and Hamilton player smashed a low shot into the far corner of the net from 15 yards.

Addison almost doubled the lead just before the half hour.

Healy threaded through a great pass to his strike partner, and the former Hibs player flashed a powerful shot inches over the bar.

Selkirk’s second came on 33 minutes as Healy held off a challenge to turn close to the half-way line.

The former Whitehill player showed great strength and pace to race through two challenges before sneaking the ball inside the far past.

Jordan Hopkinson, Addison and Healy all had further chances before the interval.

A mass exodus of midfielders and strikers at half time took some of the momentum out of the game.

But the home team began to find their way again with Ciaran Chalmers proving to be a handful as he led the line for the second half.

Unpha Koroma almost added a third on 55 minutes with a screamer of a shot from the tightest of angles – which Newbrook did well to push round the post.

Moments later Chalmers headed a deep cross against the bar.

In a rare attempt at the other end Kirkup headed a corner onto the roof of the net.

Selkirk’s third came on 66 minutes with Ryan Sclater picking out Chalmers with cross-field freekick and the young striker’s header wrong footed the keeper.

The Roofers finished strongly but substitute keeper Grant Goodfellow was never really tested.

And in the dying minute Chalmers almost added a fourth as he burst clear only to see his effort deflect inches wide of the post.

With Sean Muhsin comfortably playing the full 90 minutes in a holding midfield role and fellow debutants Lewis Turkington and Kris Mitchell showing good touches, it was easy to see why expectations are beginning to rise at Yarrow Park.

Fergus added: “It’s early days but we can all be pleased with our day’s work.

“With each game our players will get better as a unit and we still have three or four on holiday to come back into the squad.”

Selkirk. G Amos (G Goodfellow 63), R Sclater, R Donaldson, A Fleming (L Turkington 46), D Greig, M Christie, S Muhsin, D Healy (C Chalmers 46), J Hopkinson (U Koroma 46), P Addison (K Mitchell 46) & S McKirdy (G Nicholson 46).